Sloppy Smithson Valley advances to title game

By Blake Hurtik :
June 1, 2012
: Updated: June 1, 2012 11:57pm

Smithson Valley's Katie "Crash" Repole gets an RBI single during the third inning of their 4A state semifinal game with Waco Midway at McCombs Field in Austin on June 1, 2012. Smithson Valley advance to the finals with a 11-9 victory over the Panthers. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

Photo By MARVIN PFEIFFER/Express-News

Smithson Valley's Megan Hill (second from left) and Regan Mergele embrace while Brandi Wyrick (left) and Taylor Darilek leave the field after winning their 4A state semifinal game with Waco Midway at McCombs Field in Austin on June 1, 2012. Smithson Valley advance to the finals with a 11-9 victory over the Panthers. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

Photo By MARVIN PFEIFFER/Express-News

Smithson Valley fans cheer from the stands during their 4A state semifinal game with Waco Midway at McCombs Field in Austin on June 1, 2012. Smithson Valley advance to the finals with a 11-9 victory over the Panthers. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

Photo By MARVIN PFEIFFER/Express-News

Smithson Valley pitcher Regan Mergele gets an RBI double during the second inning of their 4A state semifinal game with Waco Midway at McCombs Field in Austin on June 1, 2012. Smithson Valley advance to the finals with a 11-9 victory over the Panthers. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

Photo By MARVIN PFEIFFER/Express-News

Smithson Valley's Megan Hill (right) tags out Waco Midway's Allison Cooper as she tries to slide back to second base during their 4A state semifinal game with Waco Midway at McCombs Field in Austin on June 1, 2012. Smithson Valley advance to the finals with a 11-9 victory over the Panthers. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

Photo By MARVIN PFEIFFER/Express-News

Smithson Vallehy's Megan Hill slides into home plate under Waco Midway catcher Courtney Colunga during the fifth inning of their 4A state semifinal game at McCombs Field in Austin on June 1, 2012. Smithson Valley advance to the finals with a 11-9 victory over the Panthers.

Photo By MARVIN PFEIFFER/Express-News

Smithson Vallehy's Megan Hill slides into home plate under Waco Midway catcher Courtney Colunga during the fifth inning of their 4A state semifinal game at McCombs Field in Austin on June 1, 2012. Smithson Valley advance to the finals with a 11-9 victory over the Panthers. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

Photo By MARVIN PFEIFFER/Express-News

Smithson Valley's Kellen Robles (left) applies face paint to Katie "Crash" Repole prior to their 4A state semifinal game with Waco Midway at McCombs Field in Austin on June 1, 2012. Smithson Valley advance to the finals with a 11-9 victory over the Panthers. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

Photo By MARVIN PFEIFFER/Express-News

Smithson Valley's Katie Repole (left) congratulates Taylor Darilek after she scored a run during the first inning of their 4A state semifinal game with Waco Midway at McCombs Field in Austin on June 1, 2012. The Lady Rangers batted around and scored eight runs in the first inning. Smithson Valley advance to the finals with a 11-9 victory over the Panthers. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

Photo By MARVIN PFEIFFER/Express-News

Smithson Valley's Kellen Robles lays down a bunt during the third inning of their 4A state semifinal game with Waco Midway at McCombs Field in Austin on June 1, 2012. Smithson Valley advance to the finals with a 11-9 victory over the Panthers. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

Photo By MARVIN PFEIFFER/Express-News

Smithson Valley shortstop Lindsey Hood prepares to throw to first base for an out during the fifth inning of their 4A state semifinal game with Waco Midway at McCombs Field in Austin on June 1, 2012. Smithson Valley advance to the finals with a 11-9 victory over the Panthers. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

Photo By MARVIN PFEIFFER/Express-News

Smithson Valley third baseman Katie Repole throws to first base from the ground during the fifth inning of their 4A state semifinal game with Waco Midway at McCombs Field in Austin on June 1, 2012. Smithson Valley advance to the finals with a 11-9 victory over the Panthers. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

Photo By MARVIN PFEIFFER/Express-News

Smithson Valley freshman Regan Mergele winds up for a pitch to the plate during their 4A state semifinal game with Waco Midway at McCombs Field in Austin on June 1, 2012. Smithson Valley advance to the finals with a 11-9 victory over the Panthers. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

Photo By MARVIN PFEIFFER/Express-News

Smithson Valley's Whitney "Rip" Repole, out for the finals with a broken ankle, gives teammates dirt from the 2009 state championship game that she collected and saved prior to their 4A state semifinal game with Waco Midway at McCombs Field in Austin on June 1, 2012. Smithson Valley advance to the finals with a 11-9 victory over the Panthers. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

Photo By Express-News

Smithson Valley's Taylor Darilek (left) congratulates Samantha Godfrey at the plate after Godfrey scored a first-inning run in their 4A state semifinal game with Waco Midway at McCombs Field in Austin on June 1, 2012. Smithson Valley scored eigh runs in the first inning and advanced to the finals with a 11-9 victory over the Panthers. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

AUSTIN — It didn't seem like it could get much uglier than the way Smithson Valley started the state semifinals. The Rangers allowed three runs to Waco Midway in the first inning on a combination of defensive lapses and illegal pitches.

Then Midway took the field, committed four errors, three illegal pitches and four walks as Smithson Valley plated eight runs — all in the first inning.

It wasn't pretty, but it was enough to propel the Rangers to an 11-9 win over Midway at McCombs Field on Friday, and back to the state championship game. They play Montgomery at 1 p.m. today for the Class 4A title.

“It was probably one of the worst defensive games we've played all year,” senior Katie Repole said. “If we have any hopes of winning (today), we have to cut out those errors.”

But they'll need to keep up the resiliency they showed Friday.

Freshman pitcher Regan Mergele ran into immediate trouble as the Panthers (34-9) loaded the bases with no outs in frustrating fashion: a bunt hit, an illegal pitch on a would-be out and an error. Midway capitalized with two run-scoring hits to take a 3-0 lead.

“I was trying not to freak out,” Mergele said. “I did a little, but I was able to calm down a bit.”

Her offense, like it has all season, had her back.

The Rangers set a new 4A state tournament record for runs scored in an inning with eight — on just two hits. Midway starter Katie Neal left the game without recording an out, down 2-0 and the bases loaded.

Alexandra Alonzo and Taylor Darilek each had RBI hits as the first eight Smithson Valley batters reached base and scored.

“I'm glad that we're there (in the final), but I'm not proud of the game,” Smithson Valley coach Lisa Daigle said. “But I'm proud of the first inning. We answered back and hit the ball hard.”

Despite taking an 8-3 lead, the Rangers' shaky defense kept things interesting. Two runs scored in the second when a Smithson Valley player sailed a throw to second base and to the right-field wall. Midway cut the lead to two with three runs in the sixth on five hits and two errors.

Even Smithson Valley's final out didn't come easy. With the tying run on base, a grounder deflected off Darilek's glove, but right to second baseman Megan Hill. She tossed the ball back to Darilek for the final out.

The Rangers will try today to win their third state championship, and first since 2009. Montgomery (34-6), which is making its first state tournament trip, defeated Forney 11-3 on Friday.

“Hopefully we can take this game and learn from it,” said Repole, who had three RBIs.